Leak tight dispensing pot for a solid or paste product

ABSTRACT

The pot comprises a body in which a cavity is formed with an upper opening and a lid, the lid and the body being fixed by a hinge. This pot is characterized in that:
         a) it comprises a closing means that can be activated by manual pressure, the closing means comprising an upper closing element fixed to the lid cooperating with a lower closing element fixed to the body,   b) the lid comprises a seal, made of a material with elastic resilience, and   c) the upper opening is surrounded by an upper rim that will cooperate with the seal when the pot is closed, such that the seal is compressed in a leak tight manner between the upper rim and the lid when the pot is closed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the domain of dispensers for cosmetics andtypically cosmetics with a solid or paste consistency, for examplecreams. These cosmetics are usually dispensed in pots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional pots are known that comprise a body forming a cavity tocontain the cosmetic with an opening at the top that can be closed by aclosing means. The closing means is usually a lid or a cap that can bescrewed onto the body.

Firstly, conventional pots with a screwed lid have to be held in twohands to open and close them. This presents certain disadvantages interms of manipulation and ergonomics. Moreover, once the lid has beenunscrewed, it has to be put down adjacent to the pot, and this has thedisadvantage of taking up space. Additionally, with a separate lid,there is a risk of it getting lost.

Secondly, packagings of cosmetics have to be refilled, particularly whenthe products themselves are refilled, to attract the attention of usersof the cosmetics and thus to encourage buying.

Furthermore, formulations of cosmetics are continually changing. Sincesome cosmetic compositions containing at least one volatile constituentare being developed, it is important to have a sealed dispenser adaptedto these new formulations.

Finally, there is a need for dispensers adapted to use in the bathroom,in other words dispensers that can be placed on a work surface, that areeasy to use directly and for example are easy to open.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the various embodiments of the invention, a pot for holdinga paste or solid product, typically a cosmetic, comprises a body inwhich a cavity is formed with an upper opening and capable of containingthe product, and a lid to close the upper opening. The lid and the bodyare fixed by a hinge formed by cooperation of a first hinge elementfixed to the body with a second hinge element fixed to the lid.

This pot is characterized in that:

-   a) the pot comprises a closing means that can be activated by manual    pressure, typically an axial pressure, the closing means comprising    an upper closing element fixed to the lid cooperating with a lower    closing element fixed to the body so as to manually lock/unlock the    lid with respect to the body,-   b) the lid comprises a seal made of a material with elastic    resilience, capable of cooperating with the upper opening when the    pot is closed,-   c) the upper opening is surrounded by an upper rim that will    cooperate with the seal when the pot is closed, such that the seal    is compressed in a leak tight manner between the upper rim and the    lid when the pot is closed.

The pot can be opened easily by applying a simple manual pressure, andtypically an axial pressure. The pot is ergonomic in use and just aseasy to close, since all that is necessary is to pivot the lid aroundits hinge. Furthermore, since the lid is fixed to the body by themechanical connecting hinge, there is no risk of losing it while thecontents of the pot are being applied onto the body.

Largely due to its closing means that can be activated by manualpressure and typically by an axial pressure, this pot is different fromexisting pots and thus provides a means of renewing or refillingpackagings of cosmetics, which is very important commercially.

Finally, the design of this pot assures preservation and use of productformulations containing a volatile constituent, which can also be usedto package new formulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 a is a front perspective view of a closed pot (1).

FIG. 1 b shows a back perspective view of the pot in FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 1 c shows a top view of the pot in FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 a shows a section through the pot along the vertical plane A-A inFIG. 1 c.

FIG. 2 b shows a section through the pot along the vertical plane B-B inFIG. 1 c.

FIG. 2 c shows a section through the pot along a vertical plane C-C inFIG. 2 b.

FIG. 2 d illustrates a variant of the body composed of a single-piecemolded part.

FIGS. 3 a to 3 b are partial enlarged diagrammatic views of part of FIG.2 a (top left part) and are intended to illustrate the closing meansforming the mechanism for locking and unlocking the lid of the pot (1).

FIG. 3 a shows the pot with its lid locked.

FIG. 3 b shows the pot with its lid unlocked by manual axial pressure(13) applied on the push-button (6, 6′).

FIG. 3 c is a partial enlarged diagrammatic view of part of FIG. 2 b(top left part).

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are perspective views of the lower frame of the body(2) of the pot in FIG. 1 a. FIG. 4 a is a top view. FIG. 4 b is a bottomview.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are perspective elevation views of the central linerof the body (2).

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are perspective views of the outer shell of the lid(3) of the pot in FIG. 1 a. FIG. 6 a is a top view. FIG. 6 b is a bottomview.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are perspective views of the inner plate of the lid(3).

FIG. 7 a is a bottom view that shows the cavity that houses the seal(32).

FIG. 7 b is a top view.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are perspective views of the push-button (6, 6′) ofthe lid forming a part of the closing mechanism (11). FIG. 8 a is a topview. FIG. 8 b is a bottom view.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are perspective views of the outer shell connectingpart of the lid, forming a part of the closing mechanism (11). FIG. 9 ais a top view. FIG. 9 b is a bottom view.

FIGS. 9 c and 9 d are partial cross-sections that show the resilient orelastic displacement of the axial projection (92) supporting the upperhook (310, 310′) in a transverse horizontal plane, due to bending of thetwo bending arms (91), and this displacement enables locking/unlockingof the lid. FIG. 9 c shows the connecting part “at rest”. FIG. 9 d showsthe connecting part (9′) “activated” and compressed when an axial manualpressure is applied on the push-button.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b are composite perspective views that show theassembly of three parts of the lid that contribute to forming theclosing mechanism (11) FIG. 10 a shows the front of the pot (1). FIG. 10b shows the back of the pot (1).

FIGS. 11 a to 11 c illustrate lids fitted with push-buttons withdifferent cross-sections and placed at different locations on the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 a to 1 c, aspects of the invention relate to a pot(1) for holding solid product. Referring also to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, thebody (2) may comprise a central liner (4) fixed to a lower frame (5),the lower frame surrounding the central liner and forming a support forthe central liner (4). In general, the central liner may comprise theupper rim (24, 24′, 24″) at its upper end.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 c, the upper rim may be an axial rim with awidth typically less than 5 mm and height H_(R) equal to at least thethickness E_(J) of the seal facing the axial rim (24′), the thicknessE_(J) being the thickness of the seal in the uncompressed state. As canbe seen in FIG. 3 c, the height H_(R) is the free rim height locatedabove the horizontal part (51) of the frame (5). The axial rim may be arounded rim with curvature R_(R). In certain aspects, R_(R) may varyfrom 1 mm to 5 mm.

In embodiment of the pot such as illustrated in the Figures, the centralliner and the lower frame may each form a distinct part, typically aplastic molded part, the body comprising an assembly, typically an axialassembly obtained by axial snap fitting of the central liner in thelower frame (5).

However according to another embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin FIG. 2 d, the central liner and the lower frame may form a singlepart, typically a plastic molded part.

Typically, the first hinge element of the body may be fixed to the lowerframe (5). For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 b and 3 c, the lowerframe may comprise a lower skirt (50, 50′) forming a typically verticalaxial projection and a typically horizontal part (51) fixing the lowerskirt (50, 50′) to the central liner through their upper rim. Thecentral liner is generally fixed to the lower frame by axial snapfitting.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 a and 3 a to 3 b, the upper closing elementmay comprise at least one upper hook or attachment means (310, 310′)that can be activated by a push-button (6, 6′) with elastic resilience,in which the lower closing element comprises at least one lower hook orattachment means such that a manual pressure applied on the push-button(6, 6′) makes the push-button (6, 6′) move along a travel distance andconsequently causes displacement of the upper hook or attachment means(310, 310′) with respect to the lower hook or attachment means (210).The displacement of the upper hook or attachment means (310, 310′)unlocks the lid from the body (2).

The lower hook or attachment means may be a hook fixed to the centralliner and typically the upper rim (24).

In embodiments of the pot such as illustrated in the figures, thepush-button (6) may be an axial push-button (6′), and the displacementis then an axial travel distance, the lid comprising an axial recessthrough which the axial push-button (6′) passes. The axial recess may bea central recess (33′) as illustrated in FIG. 1 c, such that the lid andthe central recess (33′) typically have the same centre or axis ofsymmetry (12). In this case, the axial push-button (6′) is a centralpush-button. This axial push-button (6′) is centered and it has a squarecross-section as illustrated in FIGS. 1 a and 1 c. The axial push-button(6′), however, may not necessarily be centered or may not necessarilyhave a square cross-section, such as illustrated for example in FIGS. 11a to 11 c. In FIG. 11 a, the axial push-button is shown as having asemi-circular cross-section and being placed at the center of the frontpart of the lid. In FIG. 11 b, the axial push-button is shown as havinga rectangular cross-section and being placed at the center of the backpart of the lid. In FIG. 11 c, the axial push-button is shown as havinga circular cross-section and being placed at the left of the front partof the lid.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, in the absence of the manualpressure, and typically when the pot is closed, the push-button (6, 6′)and the lid may be continuous on the surface, the push-button (6, 6′)and the lid having external surfaces that are typically continuous witha common tangent.

As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 3 a to 3 c, and as shown in FIGS. 6 aand 6 b, the lid may comprise an outer shell (7), if applicablecomprising the axial recess or the central recess (33′), the outer shellbeing fixed to the second fixed hinge element or typically forming asingle-piece molded part with the second hinge element (30).

The outer shell may comprise an upper skirt and an arch (71), the upperskirt and the arch joining each other at a fillet angle typically closeto 90°. However, other forms are possible according to embodiments ofthe invention, for example including rounded parts. Typically, all orpart of the upper skirt of the outer shell may be an axial or straightupper skirt and the lower skirt (50) of the frame may be an axial orstraight lower skirt (50′), the outer surfaces of the upper skirt andlower skirt (50′) typically being in line with each other.

As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3 a to 3 c, and as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7 b, the lid may comprise an inner plate provided with a centralpart forming a support for the seal (32), typically by means of a cavityformed in the inner plate and in which the seal is inserted, and aperipheral part fixed to the outer shell (7), typically by means ofaxial snap fitting as shown in FIG. 3 c.

The central part of the inner plate and the arch of the shell may be atan axial spacing equal to at least the axial travel distance of thepush-button (6′) so as to enable axial displacement of the push-button(6′). The peripheral part of the inner plate may comprise an axialborder providing the axial spacing.

As illustrated particularly in FIG. 3 c and in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, thecentral part and the peripheral part of the inner plate may be connectedto each other through an intermediate part (83), typically in the formof an inverted “U” with axial elasticity. The central part thus may havea certain axial mobility with respect to the peripheral part (81). Whenthe pot is closed, the lid can apply an approximately uniform axialpressure on the seal and particularly on the part of the seal in contactwith the upper rim (24). FIG. 3 c illustrates the leak tight cooperationof the seal of the lid with the upper rim of the body, particularly dueto permanent compression applied on the seal by the central part of theinner plate of the lid.

As can be seen in FIG. 7 b, this intermediate part (83) is circular andis external to the circular upper rim of the body or its liner (4). Itis not continuous and for example forms three angular sectors located at120° from each other separated by perforated parts without theintermediate part (83), so as to provide a good compromise between anaxial compression force and an axial elasticity.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b and as shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b,the upper hook or attachment means (310, 310′) may be supported by aconnecting part cooperating with the push-button (6, 6′), such that thetravel distance of the push-button (6, 6′) can cause the displacement ofthe hook or upper attachment means and thus unlock the lid (3). The hookor upper attachment means (310, 310′) may be supported by an axialprojection (92) of the connecting part.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b and as shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b,the push-button (6, 6′) may include an axial projection provided with abeveled lower plane (600), and the connecting part may include ahorizontal projection (90) provided with a beveled plane (900) at itscentral end. The beveled planes (900) cooperate such that the axialtravel distance of the push-button (6, 6′) causes a radial or transversedisplacement of the connecting part and consequently of the upper hookor attachment means (310, 310′).

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b, the push-button (6, 6′) maytypically comprise two lateral bending arms (61) so as to form anelastic resilient means for the push-button (6, 6′), particularly whenmanual pressure or axial pressure is no longer applied. These side arms(61) are inclined at an angle α from the central bearing surface (62) ofthe push-button (6, 6′), such that an axial compression leads to anaxial travel distance thus unlocking the lid.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, the connecting part may include twofront bending arms (91) so as to form an elastic resilient means for theconnecting part (9).

According to an embodiment of the pot shown in the figures, the seal maybe a plane seal (32′) closing off the entire the upper opening when thepot is closed. The plane seal (32′) may form or comprise a layer of amaterial forming a barrier to gases, typically oxygen or water vapor, oraromas. In this case, the plane seal is formed from a multi-layercomposite material. Similarly, at least the body and preferably at leastthe central liner may form or comprise a layer of a material forming abarrier to gases, typically oxygen or water vapor, or aromas. The resultis pots adapted to all sorts of products and satisfying even stringentrequirements in terms of shelf life, even when these products includevolatile constituents or constituents sensitive to air.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b illustrate the push-button (6, 6′) and theconnecting part placed on the inner plate (8), the outer shell not beingshown. This assembly of three parts is shown placed on the body as ifthe lid comprises the outer shell (7).

As illustrated in FIG. 2 c, the hinge may comprise an automatic openingor pre-opening means (100), the automatic opening or pre-opening means(100) typically comprising a spring (101) so as to rotate the lid assoon as the closing means has been activated manually.

By way of example, the capacity of the body or the central liner mayvary from about 15 cm³ to about 200 cm³, and preferably from about 40cm³ to about 80 cm³. The body and the lid may have the samecross-section, the cross-section typically being square or oval orrectangular or round. The pot may have a height H varying from about 15mm to about 60 mm, and preferably from about 30 mm to about 40 mm.

Pots according to embodiments of the invention are ergonomic, in otherwords easy to use, open and close for users who need to use the productcontained in the pot, particularly due to its axial push-button. Thepots can have an arbitrary form or cross-section, the body comprising acentral liner forming a receptacle for the product, the liner beingconcealed by an inner skirt visible only from the outside, such that thepots can be manufactured in a wide variety of external shapes, possiblywhile keeping the same central liner. Finally, the pots provideexcellent leak tightness and can be used for packaging all sorts ofproduct formulations, for example products with a typically paste orcreamy consistency that are collected on a finger or using a spatula ora special applicator for application onto the body. However, the potscan also be used to package any type of cosmetics or non-cosmetics, forexample pharmaceutical products.

EXAMPLES Example 1

A first pot such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 a to 10 b, except for FIG. 2d, was made. A second pot such as illustrated in FIG. 2 d also was made.These two pots were produced by molding different parts made of athermoplastic material.

Concerning the body of the pot, the central liner was fabricated bymolding according to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, and the lower frame wasfabricated according to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b. The liner and the frame wereassembled by snap fitting in the case of the first pot. The body formeda single molded part in the case of the second pot. Concerning the lidof the pot (1), the following were made by molding:

-   -   an outer shell according to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b,    -   an inner plate according to FIGS. 7 a and 7 b,    -   a push-button (6, 6′) according to FIGS. 8 a and 8 b,    -   a connecting part according to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b.

A seal with the same diameter as the cavity in the inner plate wasprovided and assembled by fixing it in the cavity through the inner rim(830) of the intermediate part (83).

The three parts of the lid that contribute to forming the closingmechanism (11), namely the push-button (6, 6′), the connecting part andthe inner plate (8), were assembled, such as illustrated in FIGS. 10 aand 10 b. The outer shell was assembled to the inner plate by snapfitting. Finally, the hinge was formed between the body and the lid (3).As illustrated in FIG. 2 c, this was done using a “left” hinge pin (14)and a “right” hinge pin (15), The “left” hinge pin (14) was composed ofa portion of a rod fixing a first hinge element of the body to a secondhinge element of the lid. The “right” hinge pin (15) formed an automaticopening means (100) comprising a spring (101), one end of which is fixedto the first hinge element (20′) of the body while the other end isfixed to the second hinge element (30′) of the lid, the “right” hingepin (15) being mounted with a torsion such that the spring applies atorsion torque when the pot is closed, and in that this torsion torquetends to automatically open the lid as soon as the closing means isunlocked.

In this example, all hinge elements (20, 20′, 30, 30′) form hub portionsfixed in pairs by a hinge pin (14, 15), the two “left” hinge elementsand being fixed by the “left” hinge pin (14), and the two “right” hingeelements (20′) and (30′) being fixed by the “right” hinge pin (15)formed by the automatic opening means (100).

Example 2

Pots according to FIGS. 11 a to 11 c were also manufactured. In thisexample, the connecting part and possibly the position of the upper hook(310) and the lower hook were adapted such that an axial pressureapplied on the push-button (6, 6′) locks the lid onto the body orunlocks it from the body, in a similar manner to that described indetail particularly in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b.

All fabricated pots in the above examples were tested to check theirleak tightness. The pots were found to be leak tight even after a largenumber of opening and closing operations corresponding to normal use ofthe pot.

1. A pot for a paste or solid product comprising: a body having a cavitywith an upper opening, a lid for closing the upper opening, and a hingefor connecting the lid and the body, the hinge formed by cooperation ofa first hinge element fixed to the body and a second hinge element fixedto the lid, the pot characterized in that: a) the pot comprises aclosing assembly activated by manual pressure, the closing assemblycomprising an upper closing element fixed to the lid in cooperatingengagement with a lower closing element fixed to the body for lockingthe lid with respect to the body, b) the lid comprises a seal made of amaterial with elastic resilience, the seal cooperating with the upperopening when the pot is closed, c) the upper opening is surrounded by anupper rim that cooperates with the seal when the pot is closed, the sealbeing compressed between the upper rim and the lid when the pot isclosed.
 2. Pot according to claim 1 in which the body comprises acentral liner fixed to a lower frame, the lower frame surrounding thecentral liner and forming a support for the central liner.
 3. Potaccording to claim 2 in which the central liner comprises the upper rimat its upper end.
 4. Pot according to claim 1 in which the upper rim isan axial rim with a width less than about 5 mm and height H_(R) equal toor greater than the thickness E_(J) of the seal in an uncompressed statefacing the axial rim.
 5. Pot according to claim 4 in which the axial rimis a rounded rim with curvature R_(R) between about 1 mm to about 5 mm.6. Pot according to claim 2 in which the central liner is distinct fromthe lower frame, the body comprising an axial assembly obtained by axialsnap fitting of the central liner in the lower frame.
 7. Pot accordingto claim 2 in which the central liner and the lower frame form a singlepart.
 8. Pot according to claim 2 in which the first hinge element ofthe body is fixed to the lower frame.
 9. Pot according to claim 2 inwhich the lower frame comprises a lower skirt forming a generallyvertical axial projection and a generally horizontal part fixing thelower skirt to the central liner through the upper rim.
 10. Potaccording to claim 1 in which the upper closing element comprises atleast one upper attachment means activated by a push-button with elasticresilience, and in which the lower closing element comprises at leastone lower attachment means, application of a manual pressure on thepush-button making the push-button move along a travel distance, theupper attachment means being displaced with respect to the lowerattachment means to unlock the lid from the body.
 11. Pot according toclaim 10 in which the lower attachment means is a hook fixed to thecentral liner and generally the upper rim.
 12. Pot according to claim 10in which the push-button is an axial push-button, and the upperattachment means being displaced an axial travel distance, the lidcomprising an axial recess through which the axial push-button passes.13. Pot according to claim 12 in which the axial recess is a centralrecess, the lid and the central recess generally having the same centeror axis of symmetry.
 14. Pot according to claim 10 in which, in theabsence of the manual pressure, the push-button and the lid arecontinuous on the surface, the push-button and the lid having externalsurfaces continuous with a common tangent.
 15. Pot according to claim 1in which the lid comprises an outer shell comprising the axial recess orthe central recess, the outer shell being fixed to the second fixedhinge element or forming a single-piece molded part with the secondhinge element.
 16. Pot according to claim 15 in which the outer shellcomprises an upper skirt and an arch, the upper skirt and the archjoining each other at a fillet angle of about 90°.
 17. Pot according toclaim 16 in which at least a part of the upper skirt of the outer shellis an axial or straight upper skirt and the lower skirt of the frame isan axial or straight lower skirt, the outer surfaces of the upper skirtand lower skirt aligned with each other.
 18. Pot according to claim 17in which the lid comprises an inner plate having a central part forminga support for the seal, the seal insertable into the central part, and aperipheral part fixed to the outer shell.
 19. Pot according to claim 18in which the central part of the inner plate and the arch of the shellare spaced axially a distance greater than or equal to the axial traveldistance of the push-button to enable axial displacement of thepush-button.
 20. Pot according to claim 19 in which the peripheral partof the inner plate comprises an axial border providing the axialspacing.
 21. Pot according to claim 18 in which the central part and theperipheral part of the inner plate are connected to each other throughan intermediate part in the form of an inverted “U” with axialelasticity, the central part having axial mobility with respect to theperipheral part, the lid applying an approximately uniform axialpressure on the part of the seal in contact with the upper rim when thepot is closed.
 22. Pot according to claim 18 in which the upperattachment means is supported by a connecting part cooperating with thepush-button, the travel distance of the push-button displacing the upperattachment means to unlock the lid.
 23. Pot according to claim 22 inwhich the push-button includes an axial projection provided with abeveled lower plane, and the connecting part includes a horizontalprojection provided with a beveled plane at its central end, the beveledplanes cooperating with one another, the axial travel distance of thepush-button radially or transversely displacing the connecting part andthe upper attachment means.
 24. Pot according to claim 10 in which thepush-button comprises two lateral bending arms to form an elasticresilient means for the push-button when the manual pressure or theaxial pressure is not applied.
 25. Pot according to claim 22 in whichthe connecting part includes two front bending arms to form an elasticresilient means for the connecting part.
 26. Pot according to claim 1 inwhich the seal is a plane seal closing off the upper opening when thepot is closed.
 27. Pot according to claim 26 in which the plane sealforms or comprises a layer of a material forming a barrier to gases oraromas.
 28. Pot according to claim 1 in which at least the body forms orcomprises a layer of a material forming a barrier to gases or aromas.29. Pot according to claim 1 in which the hinge comprises an automaticopening or pre-opening means, the automatic opening or pre-opening meanscomprising a spring to rotate the lid when the closing means has beenactivated manually.
 30. Pot according to claim 1 in which the capacityof the body or the central liner is between about 15 cm³ to about 200cm³.
 31. Pot according to claim 1 in which the body and the lid have thesame cross-sectional shape.
 32. Pot according to claim 1 having a heightH between about 15 mm to about 60 mm.